The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-07
THOUGHTS OF THE TEACHERS.


THOuGHTs OF THE TEACHERS
Subjects That Were Discussed I'm the Conven-
ton Yesterday Morning and Afternoon.
There were nearly eight hundred persons in
attendance upon the convention yesterday, and
no audience room in Indianapolis ever held
handsomer more intellectual appearing assem-
blaee The ladies' greatly outnumbered the
sterner sex, and were, for the most part, persons
under thirty years old. while a majority of the
gentlemen were elderly. Among the ladies. as
well as among the gentlemen. there was great
showing of eyeglasses, which rather added to
the intellectual aspect of the assemblage. Presi-
dent Lavalee, who arose from a sick-bed to
attend the convention, is still indisposed, and.
at the morning session called John C. Fillmore,
of Milwaukee. to preside. Messrs. Hahn, Brock
bauer and Beck were announced committee
to prepare a memorial of the late j. G. Lemon,
Of the association.
In the piano section the first paper of the fore
noon was read by the composer, Arthur Foote,
of Boston, on THE Proper Use of Piano Stools"
He showed the abuses of the pedals and pointed
Dut nesdful reforms
Richard Zeckwer. Of Philadelphia, thought
the pedal a clumsy continuance and considered
IL strange that il had been long retained
He thought q new pedal would one day be in
vented.
C. B. Cady. of Ann Arbor, read essay on
Breathing, in Relation to Piano Playing" He
held that unity of mind and body is essential to
successful Interpretation of music The results
Of applied breathing are greater breadth and
depth Of tone. He insisted that deep resonant
chests necessary to good singing. and that
the matter of breathing should be made sys-
tematic study, to bring about physical ability to
sing and play we'll
Mr.. Matthews, of Chicago. thought there was
little doubt of the correctness of the theory adj
vanced.
DIR. wilkins, Of Rochester. said he was re-
minded of the time he heard Rubinstein in a
come down strong on the keys he would puff out
4huhP huh" like wooc-chopper on a hickory
log
Miss Amy Fay, of Chicago in her paper on
sExpression in Piano Playing" gave some per-
sonal experiences, among others, her last inter-
view with List who remarked that he could
when anyone comes to me with my Hungarian
Rhapsody, / say to him, Sir, there is the
window and there is the door; choose the man
ner Of your exit" Miss Fay emphasized the
Importance OF using the soft pedal
Madame Bloomfield, of Chicago. agreed in
most respects with Miss Fay. The latter had
mentioned the advantages a large and enthu-
= sastic audience imparts to musician Madame
+ Bloomfield thought the true artist would be so
wrapped up in his work as not TO know whether
he were playing TO many or few.
The piano solos were given BY Alexander Lam
, bert Of New York One was r. Josefys etude
dedicated to Lambert another was f. Chopin's
ballads, A fat, both of which were greatly ad
mired and applauded, the organ solo,
sonata. Psalm kew Julius Reubkel, by S. A.
Baldwin, of Chicago.
The vocal section opened with S. N. Penfeld's
song I'm Our Boat" and c. p. Morrisons Come
Out, tits Now Septembe These were sung
by chorus Of fifteen voices directed by Prof.
Max Leckner, of this city.
Singing Flat and Singing Sharp" was
essay sent By Mr.. Leo Koder. of Brooklyn. 1t
was discussed by Charles Abercrombie and a.
s. Perkins, Chicago; Madame Octavia Hensel,
Nashville; Sumner Salter, Atlanta; Mr.. Stewart,
bf Cleveland, and others.
Frank Oh. De Riap New York. read paper
on practical Remarks on Singing" which
discussed by Mr.. Abercrombe and Madame
Cappianl
Mrs. Emma Thurston Whitehead, Brooklyn,
gave from L. Spohr's "Faust." the "Scena ct
AriaD and Joachim Rats Ever with Thee"
and at the conclusion was roundy applauded.
A paper lot upon the programme, but which
read by Madame Cappiani on ''Aliquot Tones
and Surgery of the Threat" She did not APP
prove of having the tonsls cut, even when dis
eased and said she knew of a number of promi-
nent singers with tonsils cut who are obliged to
transpose their arias entire tone or third.
At most, only portion of the tonsils should be
removed, and that not Dy the knife, but by cleo
trio cautery by astringent applications. She
spoke of Bach who, when his soprano was chang
ing to basso, sang IN octaves, a puzzllng phe-
nomenon. She gave this the theory: That
with adolescence, the vocal bands became filled
with blood, aud 1t Is only after this blood Is ao-
sorbed that the male voice becomes settled.
With Bach this process may have been imper-
feet, leaving drop of blood on each chord and
dividing them unequally, the longer part giving
the slower vibrations and basso tone and the
shorter part giving the quicker vibrations and
the higher octave of the first, thus in one and
the same breath producing two tones.
Dr. Ephrsim Cutler, of New York, gave de-
monstration OF the vocal chords
The vocal section adopted resolution asking
the association to allow it to prepare its pro-
gramme by separate committee